How cold is tooo cold?

[Pookster]

I remember last year in vermont, went skiing- Nighttime temperatures easily dropped below -25F.

is it ok to drive a diesel in those conditions? Good charged batteries, good glow plugs, and also a lot of additive- they claim to offer anti gel capability down to -40.

Just thought I might check with you guys.

 

[smprider112]

plug in yer block heater /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

 

[imiceman44]

[ QUOTE ]
I remember last year in vermont, went skiing- Nighttime temperatures easily dropped below -25F.

is it ok to drive a diesel in those conditions? Good charged batteries, good glow plugs, and also a lot of additive- they claim to offer anti gel capability down to -40.

Just thought I might check with you guys.

[/ QUOTE ]

Watch it with the additives, don't go overboard, you'll be shooting flames through your exhaust or worse exploding your engine.
They have a recomended amount, you could probably raise it a 5% no more.
As for the temps, if you are still mixing fuel and WVO I would use #1 not #2 when I mix, which is straight Kerosene if I am not mistaken or more kerosene at least.
If you have the option, plugging in the block heater helps, but if you are like where I go out in the snow in the middle of nowhere your only bet is the good additives and good glowplug system with new batteries and a good starter.
/forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif

 

[Pookster]

Where do I plug in a block heater while at the ski resort? /forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

 

[Pookster]

strangely enough, they dont have a maxiumum amount- and it seems as if extra additive doesnt hurt anything. (The PowerService stuff and the DFA).

In regards to the vegetable oil- no I will not be running a mix in the winter- the gelling point is just too high, i dont think i'd be able to acutally get the stuff to move.

 

[bigblock454]

It can be done safely.

1. 1000 CCA Batteries + Perfect battery cables.
2. 5w40 Rotella (Don't forget to change this when the weather warms up)
3. Manual Glow Plug controller w/ Kennedydiesel.com Quick heats, hold them on for 30 seconds.
4. Plenty of fuel additive maybe #1 with additive.

My 99 starts in -15 weather no problem without pluggin in.

 

[6.2puller]

I would add the gear reduction starter to that list. Mine starts 100% better in the sub zeros since that swap and the batteries don't take as much drain befor it fires.

 

[unclematty]

In temps that cold, I leave the KW running all night, even with the fuel additive,UT/WYO temps in winter are sometimes even colder then that. I wouldn't trust the smaller deisels to start in those temps either, it's the only way to make sure that it runs /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif

 

[imiceman44]

[ QUOTE ]
strangely enough, they dont have a maxiumum amount- and it seems as if extra additive doesnt hurt anything. (The PowerService stuff and the DFA).

In regards to the vegetable oil- no I will not be running a mix in the winter- the gelling point is just too high, i dont think i'd be able to acutally get the stuff to move.

[/ QUOTE ]

I use the power service stuff too, and I have seen flame shoot out my exhaust when I went with double the recommendation.
I talked to a couple of diesel mechanics I know that work on fleets of trucks and they say that have seen that happen, so I figure why push it, the additive is supposed to be good for the temps I am running so I just go with a 10% over to make sure I got the right amount but no more 200% for me, it scared me when it happened twice on my way to Lake Tahoe.
/forums/images/graemlins/weld.gif